Backing device.



G. I'. BRADFORD.

BACKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION nun JAN. 7. 1909.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

W: W Y Oi /h f,

"ms NORRIS PETERS co, WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATEN T FFICE.

CHARLES T. BRADFORD, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

BACKING DEVICE.

Application filed January 7, 1909.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Serial No. 471,10.

backing devlces known as whi rietree neckj yokes or Boston-backers The usual form of Boston-backer is objectionable by reason of its weight and the length of pole required, but mainly on account of the spreader-bar which by its swinging movement is a menace to the draftanimals and to passing vehicles and to pe destrians at crossings and sidewalks.

The object of the present invention is to provide a backing device in which these objectionable features are eliminated while permitting the draft-animals to exert their strength to the best advantage in backing.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement by which the above objects are attained, to be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show an approved form of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a doublepole equipped with the invention for service with a team of three animals. The remaining figures are on a larger scale. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the end of a single pole equipped with the improved crab, the spreader-frame being omitted from one side to show the construction of the eye by which the spreaderframe is attached to the crab at the rear. Fig.3 is a corresponding rear elevation, the pole being shown in cross-section. Fig. 4 is a front view of the pole and crab, and a portion of the spreader-frames.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The construction of the crab and spreaderframes is the same for both poles of the double-pole arrangement shown in Fig. 1, and also for a single pole vehicle.

A is the pole carrying at its end a frame or crab comprising a single casting or forging having a pole-bar B applied on each side of the pole, connected by an arm B projecting laterally from each, curved to form an eye B and joined by the transverse bar 13 at the front, the whole inclosing the end of the pole with the latter abutting against the inner face of the transverse bar and serving to reinforce it. The crab is secured to the pole g by transverse bolts C C extending through the pole-bars and pole, and each pole-bar carries near its rear end a laterally projecting eye B in the same plan with the eye 13 but set vertically or at a right angle thereto.

The spreaderframes extend outwardly from each side of the crab and are each in a single piece of bar-iron bent as shown and consisting of a straight rear member D having an eye D at its inner end, engaged with the eye B on the crab, and folded upon itself to form a harness-loop D from which it extends angularly inward, as the front member D terminating in an eye D engaged with the eye B at the front of the crab. In the harness-loop D is a ring E to which the whiflletree neck yoke F is connected. When used in a double-pole vehicle as shown in Fig. 1, the rings E E of the adjacent inner loops D D are engaged by the hook F of a removable central whiflietree neck yoke F The outer neck yokes F may be permanently joined to their rings E and are similarly connected in the use of a single pole. By this arrangement of crab and spreader-frame the force exerted by the draft-animals in backing is exerted in lines parallel to the pole and the tendency of the animals to assume angular positions relatively thereto is avoided. The pole may be shortened materially by the elimination of the comparatively long chains of the Boston-backer, an advantage of value in maneuvering large heavily loaded Vehicles in narrow streets.

By making the spreader-frame in a single piece hinged to the crab, lateral swing is avoided; the only motion relatively to the pole is the vertical movement of the spreaderframe in the eyes B B as hinge-centers. To limit this up and down swing the eye B is provided with a lateral projection or lug G on which the spreader-frame rests and is supported in an approximately horizontal position when not lifted by the draft-animal in the act of backing, thus relieving the animal of its weight under normal conditions, and the upward swing of the frame is checked by a vertical projection or pin H on the eye B arranged to be struck by the inner face of the eye D as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus reducing the vertical swing sufficiently to lO-S avoid danger to the animal while permitting all the motion required in adjusting itself to the backing strain.

A leader-eye B may be formed on the bar B at the front to which a leading horse or team may be attached.

The device is simple and inexpensive and is easily a plied. It may be substituted for other has ung devices without damaging or materially changing the pole.

I claim 2-- 1. In a device of the characterset forth, a pole-crab comprising a pole-bar on each side of the pole, a loop joining the ends of such bars and lying against the end of said pole to form laterally extending front eyes, rear eyes on said bars, and backing-frames each in a single piece comprising a laterally-projecting rear portion engaged in one of said rear eyes, a harness-loop, and an angular front portion engaged in the front eye on the same side of the pole.

2. In a device of the character set forth, a ole-crab in a single piece comprising a polehar on each side of the pole, a loop joining the ends of such bars and lying against the end of said pole to form laterally-extending horizontal front eyes, vertical rear eyes on said bars, backing-frames each in a single piece comprising a laterally-projecting rear portion having an eye engaged in one of said rear eyes, a harness-loo and an'angular front portion engaged in t e front eye on the same pole bar, and a whiflietree neck yoke connected to said harness-loop.

3. In a device of the character set forth, a

pole-crab having on each side an eye at the front and a vertical eye at the rear, a laterally-projecting backing-frame engaged in said eyes, each of said rear eyes having a lug arranged to support said frame and limit its downward movement, and a pin arranged to be struck by said frame to limit the upward movement of the latter.

4. In a device of the character set forth, a pole crab having pole bars on the side of the pole with an integral loop joining the forward ends of said pole bars and forming front and rear side loops, and backing bars each of asingle piece of rigid "material of substantially V shape disposed laterally with an eye at the apex and loops engaged in the front and rear eyes of the pole crab with the inclined portions of the backing bars forming angular struts.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aflix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES T. BRADFORD. Witnesses:

CHARLES R. SEARLE, .H. J. PETERSEN. 

